Demand for Justice and Corrective Action in Varanasi sign now

October 31, 2005

Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91 52 2223 0002 / 2223 9234

Dear Mr. Yadav,

We are concerned citizens of India and other nationalities who note
with distress recent developments surrounding the rescue of 31 girls
including 17 minors from the red-light district of Varanasi, India.

Frustrated by inaction and complicity of the police officials
including Mr. Navneet Sakera, Sr. Superintendent of Police of
Varanasi, citizens including Mr. Ajeet Singh and Ms. Manju Singh from
a local NGO Guria and faculty/students of Benaras Hindu University
took citizen action to rescue girls from the clutches of brothel
owners in Varanasi.

We are distressed to learn from human rights organizations[2], media
reports[3] and private sources[5] about nature of the police
involvement, and the subsequent threats the led to Guria's staff
having to go into hiding.

In particular we are concerned about:

o Immediate physical safety of Guria staff including Ajeet and
Manju, and the students and faculty of Benaras Hindu University

o Fairness and due process if any laws were indeed broken because
of the public statements of the law enforcement personnel
themselves[3]

o Harassment of Mr. Ajeet and other citizens using false cases and
media reports

We hope to follow the developments of this case closely. We hope you
will look into the matter immediately and take appropriate action
within your powers.

Sincerely,

Signatories of this Petition

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About Guria:

Guria is a non-profit organization based in Varanasi, India that has
been fighting the sexual exploitation of women & girls specially
forced prostitution & trafficking. The main objective of the
organization is to prevent child prostitution and eliminate second
generation prostitution. Led by Mr. Ajeet Singh and Ms. Manju Singh,
Guria's activities include a non-formal education center and drop-in
centers for the children of women in prostitution, rehabilitation of
the victims, and advocacy. While responding to the immediate suffering
of the women, Guria also focuses on the root causes of prostitution -
poverty and inequality. More information can be found at Guria's
website[1].

[1] Guria. http://www.guria.org
[2] Asian Human Rights Commission's Urgent Appeal. UA-190-2005: INDIA:
Demand guarantees of proper treatment and protection for girls
released from prostitution and human rights defender
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1314/
[3] Rescued girl complains against NGO. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051028/nation.htm#10
[4] Student swoop on Varanasi brothels. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051026/asp/nation/story_5400371.asp
[5] The Mystery of the Guria Case. http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/000497.html#000497

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Copies of the petition will be sent to:

1. Mr. Navneet Sakera
Senior Superintendent of Police
Varanasi
INDIA
Tel: +91 54 22502655, +91 98 3950 4898 (mobile)
Fax: +91 54 2250 1450

2. Hon. Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mishra
Member of Parliament, Varanasi,
33, Meena Bagh,
New Delhi- 110 003
Tel: (011) 24100040,
Mobile: 9868180493,9415201122 (M)

3. Mr. Gokaran
District Magistrate
Varanasi
INDIA
Tel: +91 54 2250 8585
Fax: +91 54 2234 8313
E-mail: [email protected]

4. Mr. Yashpal Singh, IPS
Director General of Police
Tilak Marg, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel : +91 52 2220 6104
Fax :+91 52 2220 6120, 2220 6174.
E-mail : [email protected]

5. Justice A.P. Mishra
Chairperson
Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission
6-A Kalidass Marg
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: + 91 52 2272 6742
Fax: + 91 52 2272 6743

6.Justice A. S. Anand
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi-110001
INDIA
Tel: + 91 11 2307 4448
Email: [email protected]

7. Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
c/o Ms Lucinda Ohanlon
Room 3-042
OHCHR-UNOG, Palais Wilson,
8-14 Avenue de la Paix,
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9615
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN)
Email: [email protected]

8. Ms. Sigma Huda
UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 ave de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: (+41 22) 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS)
Email: [email protected]

10. Mr. Juan Miguel Petit
UN Special Rapportuer on the Sale of Children
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 ave de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: (+41 22) 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON SALE OF CHILDREN)
Email: [email protected]

11. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders
OHCHR,
Palais des Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Fax: (+41 22) 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
Email: [email protected]